Question: Who is the Mahdee, and what are the signs of the (Last) Hour?

Answer: (He is) a man from the family of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam), who will appear before the descending of ‘Eesaa (Jesus) the son of Mary (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and he will invite (the ummah) to Islaam. And Allaah will establish the proof by way of him, and many people will be guided by him.

If you want further (information) regarding this, then read what Ibn Katheer has written about him in his book «al-Bidaayah wan-Nihaayah».

And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and his family and his companions.

The Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Verdicts, comprising –

Head: Shaykh ‘Abdul ‘Azeez ibn Abdullaah ibn Baaz;

Deputy Head: Shaykh ‘Abdur-Razzaaq ‘Afeefee;

Member: Shaykh ‘Abdullaah ibn Ghudayyaan;

Member: Shaykh ‘Abdullaah ibn Qu’ood

[Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-‘Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa. – Volume 3, Page 142, Question No.1 of Fatwa No.7664]

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Published: 13 July 2001

Question: I request you provide me with a fatwa as to the authenticity and existence of the Mahdee about whom it is said he is on the Earth. And are there any authentic ahaadeeth which mention him? May Allaah reward you.

Answer: The authentic ahaadeeth which mention the appearance of the Mahdee are many, and they are mentioned in a number of narrations from the Imaams of Hadeeth. And a group from the people of knowledge mention that they are mutawaatir (that which is narrated by such a large number of people that it is impossible that they have invented a lie) in meaning, from amongst them are Abul-Hasan al-Aajuree who is from the scholars of the (hijree) fourth century and the noble scholar as-Safaareenee in his book «Lawaami’ al-Anwaar al-Bahiyyah», and the noble scholar ash-Showkaanee in his treatise «at-Towdeeh fee tawaatur Ahaadeeth al-Mahdee wad-Dajjaal wal-Maseeh».

And he (the Mahdee) has many well-known signs which are mentioned in the ahaadeeth, (of which) the most important are:

«That he will fill the Earth with uprightness and justice after it had been filled with injustice and oppression».

And it is not permissible for anyone to believe that such and such the son of such and such is the Mahdee, until the signs which the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) mentioned in the authentic ahaadeeth are prevalent, the most important of which we have mentioned:

«That he will fill the Earth with uprightness and justice…», the hadeeth.

And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and his family and his companions.

The Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Verdicts, comprising –

Head: Shaykh ‘Abdul ‘Azeez ibn Abdullaah ibn Baaz;

Deputy Head: Shaykh ‘Abdur-Razzaaq ‘Afeefee;

Member: Shaykh ‘Abdullaah ibn Ghudayyaan;

Member: Shaykh ‘Abdullaah ibn Qu’ood

[Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-‘Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa. – Volume 3, Page 141, Fatwa No.2844]

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Published: 13 July 2001

Question: What is your opinion about the appearance of the promised person, al-Mahdee? Are there any ahaadeeth to verify this?I request clarification regarding this (matter)?

Answer: There are numerous ahaadeeth which are reported by the leading authorities in the science of hadeeth verifying the advent of the expected Mahdee, the Dajjaal and the Messiah (Jesus (`alayhis-salaam». Certain signs will precede his advance; the most significant of which is that he will make justice prevail on earth after the prevalance of injustice and tyranny. It is not permissible today for anyone to allege that a certain person is the Mahdee until his signs that the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) foretold have appeared such as the one mentioned above.

And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and his family and his companions.

The Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Verdicts

[Fataawa Islaamiyyah – Volume 1, Page 56]

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Published: 28 February 2002